INDIANAPOLIS—Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson was blunt with linebacker Jerrell Freeman when he signed as a free agent in January: Treat this as your last shot at making it in the NFL, Grigson urged the former CFL standout.

Freeman has done precisely that.

He was viewed as a bottom-of-the-roster prospect in the offseason but capitalized on the opportunity to be so much more when starting middle linebacker Pat Angerer sustained a broken foot in the first preseason game.

Freeman has been an ideal fit in the hybrid 3-4 scheme. He seldom comes off the field, even figuring into the nickel package. Look for him to continue to be a defensive catalyst as the team pushes for an unexpected playoff spot.

Freeman displayed sideline-to-sideline mobility in the CFL and that has transferred to the NFL. He had 16 tackles and a sack in Sunday’s win over the Buffalo Bills, upping his season total to a team-high 101 tackles.

While urgency might be a motivating factor for Freeman, there’s no denying his knack for being in the right place at the right time. He returned an interception of Jay Cutler for a touchdown in the opener and ranks third on the team with two sacks. The coaching staff still wants to get Angerer, the defense’s leading tackler last season, on the field but not at Freeman's expense.